By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Preseason I.D. - Illiana took place on January 28th at the Southland Center in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The event was open to all high school classes and featured players from Illinois and Indiana. We started the analysis of the event a couple of weeks ago with the Quick Hits and Stat Story.

Today we continue the analysis by taking a look at the catchers in attendance. Trevor Davis (Danville) is a physical left-handed hitting catcher in the 2020 class. At the plate, flashed pull power and a fast bat. Also, has a strong arm from the crouch, 77 mph.

6-foot-2, 185-pound catcher Nick Doman (Marist, 2018) also impressed behind the plate. Prototypical catchers arm action; short, over-the-top with easy effort. Throws carried and clocked at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.09.

Catchers (Listed Alphabetically)

Nick Anderson, C, Highland HS, (IN), 2018
6-foot-2, 168 pound, athletic build, right-handed hitting catcher.  Offensively, showcased a simple swing with quick bat speed.  Bat path is level and gets to extension.  Displayed a line drive approach with fluid rhythm.  Tendency to leak.  Registered a high exit velocity of 89 mph. Defensively, possesses quick feet with a clean transfer, arm works from a short, high ¾ arm action.  Athletic setup with some flexibility.  Pop times ranged between 2.14-2.25, throws clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.39-60 yard dash.

Trevor Davis, C/RHP, Danville, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound, strong, well-proportioned, two-way prospect. Worked out on the mound and behind the plate. Defensively, advanced catch and throw prospect for his age. Flexible lower half, presents target well, quiet receiver, soft hands with ability to stick pitches in the zone. Comes out of the crouch athletic and quick. Quick arm from an over-the-top slot, throws are true with carry and clocked at 77 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.10-2.20. Offensively, left-handed hitter, bat speed, uphill path, pull approach with power potential. Balanced, closed setup, early load, short stride and active lower half throughout. Registered a 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. 7.91 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, throws strikes with a three-pitch mix. Slow tempo in delivery, repeats, high-front side, lands closed and some effort throughout. Quick arm out of an over-the-top slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, straight action, 79-80 mph, topped at 81 mph. Curveball, 12/6 action, 64-65 mph. Changeup flashed sinking action, 73-76 mph.

Nick Doman, C, Marist, 2018
6-foot-2, 185-pound, long, athletically built catcher. Defensively, quick transfer, gets out of the crouch efficiently, athletically and stays balanced throughout throw. Prototypical catcher arm action; short, over-the-top and easy effort. Throws carry, stay true, consistently around the bag and clocked at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.09.  Right-handed hitter, wide, spread-out setup, slight loading action and heel-raise stride. Simple approach, creates bat speed, looks to lift the baseball, path works uphill and finishes on his backside. 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. 7.55 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Freddie March, C, Lake Park, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound, lean, athletically built, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, deep pre-pitch load, leg-kick timing trigger and creates rhythm in swing. Flashed bat speed and a gap-to-gap approach; Registered an 88 mph exit velocity. Defensively, athletic slightly open setup and soft, fundamentally sound blocker. Clean transfer, feet work towards the target, short over-the-top arm action, throws clocked at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.40-2.50. Ran a 7.85 60.

Jared Schassburger, C, Lake Central HS (IN), 2018
6-foot, 185 pound right-handed hitting receiver.  Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, leg kick, average balance throughout.  Tendency to over rotate the lower half and dive.  Hands are loose showing above average bat speed.  Regularly gets to extension.  Consistently barrelled up the baseball during his BP. Registered a high exit velocity of 83 mph. Defensively,  low, open setup, clean glove-to-hand transfer, arm works short out of a ¾ arm slot. Pop times ranged between 2.12-2.22, throws clocked at 72 mph from the crouch.  Ran a 8.32-60 yard dash.

Patrick Straub, RHP/C, Metea Valley, 2020
5-foot-11, 150-pound, lean, wiry frame two-way prospect with plenty of room for continued physical development. On the mound, projectable right-handed pitcher. Simple, repeatable delivery with rhythm, stays on-line, lands square and finishes athletically. Arm work short, loose and quick out of a high ¾ slot with regular effort. Fastball, works mostly straight, 78-80 mph. Changeup looks to currently be second best offering; occasional fade action, 72-73 mph.   Curveball, 11/5 shape, sat 63-66 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced, slightly closed setup and short stride. Flashed bat speed and path has length through the zone. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, behind the plate, tall setup, feet do not square up to target at times but flashed above-average arm strength for his age and consistently around the bag; 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.16-2.25. 8.56 runner in the 60.

Jesse Torres, C/OF, Richards, 2019
5-foot-9, 145-pound, lean, multi-positional prospect. Ran a 7.38 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, toe-tap stride and path works uphill. Registered a 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Worked out defensively in the outfield and behind the plate. In the outfield, aggressively plays through the baseball, deliberate, clean exchange, short arm action from ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 79 mph from the outfield. Behind the plate, flexible lower half, sits deep in the crouch, arm works from a ¾ slot, clocked at 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.26-2.40.

Johnny Vittori, C, Crown Point (IN), 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound, lean, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains good balance through contact and line-drive approach. Registered an 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, low, slightly open setup, softness in hands, agile blocker. Clean transfer, short, over-the-top arm action, throws clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.25-2.33. 7.51 runner in the 60.

Alex Weisshaar, C, Montini, 2018
6-foot, 195-pound, sturdy build, right-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, balanced setup, strides closed and maintains balance throughout. Simple swing and bat stays flat through the zone at times. Registered an 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, tendency to get out of the crouch early, quick glove-to-hand transfer, arm works short and out of a high ¾ window; throws clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.16-2.26. Also, ran an 8.22 60.

RELATED CONTENT